Professor & Vice Chair

Research Interest

The clinically related basic science research in the Zhang Neuroscience Research Laboratories focuses on cerebral vascular diseases (stroke). There are about 700,000 people suffering from stroke each year in the United States. Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the first leading cause of long-term neurological disability in adults in America. Cerebral vascular diseases are divided into two types: hemorrhagic (responsible for <20 percent of cerebral vascular diseases) and ischemic (responsible for >80 percent of cerebral vascular disease). Direct medical expenses, lost income, and decreased productivity after cerebral vascular diseases cost billions of dollars in the United States.

The main research direction in the Zhang Laboratory is focused on the ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, as well as global cerebral ischemia, neonatal hypoxia, and neurological complications of neurosurgery and anesthesia. Animal models of above mentioned neurological disorders are currently employed in the studies of cerebral physiology including blood-brain barrier, brain edema, cerebral blood flow and intracranial pressure, cerebral morphology, especially immunohistochemistry, molecular biology, neuro-imaging, neurological and neurobehavioral functional testing. The main focus of research interests is cerebral vascular biology, neuroprotective strategies, gene therapy, signaling pathways, apoptosis, and hyperbaric medicine.

One of the goals of the Neuroscience Research Laboratories involves training in neuroscience research. The Laboratories currently host researchers from America, Canada, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Iraq, Japan, China, Poland, Russia, Ireland, Turkey, and India. In addition neurosurgery and anesthesiology residents are encouraged to participate in the basic science research. Graduate students in basic science departments are encouraged to investigate clinical neuroscience problems.

Dr. Zhang's research efforts have been and are supported by grants from American Heart Association, National Institute of Health, and several other foundations.